From humble beginnings as a gardener to becoming one of Australia’s longest-serving finance ministers, Mathias Cormann announces retirement at end of 2020

Political heavyweight Mathias Cormann has confirmed he will retire from public office at the end of this year, bringing to an end one of the most remarkable rags-to-riches stories in Australian politics. The Belgian-born lawyer, who moved to Perth in 1996 barely able to speak English and who grew to become the nation’s longest- serving Federal finance minister and one of the most powerful and influential figures in Australia, yesterday confirmed weeks of speculation that he was retiring from politics. The WA Liberal senator said he had left “nothing on the field”, comfortable that he had given his all to the country he now calls home. “Serving as a senator for Western Australia and as the Australian minister for finance continues to be one of the greatest privileges of my life,” Senator Cormann said. “Having the opportunity to help shape the future direction of our country as part of a great team working to make our country even stronger, more prosperous and more resilient is a great honour. “I love this job. Every single day, I am giving it my all. “I can honestly say that I have left nothing on the field. “By the end of this year, we will be halfway through this current term of government. “Having decided not to recontest the next election, I can confirm that I have advised the Prime Minister that the end of this year would be an appropriate time for an orderly transition in my portfolio. “We have many highly talented members and senators in our team who stand ready to make an outstanding contribution in what, in my mind, is the best and most interesting portfolio in government. “I would like to thank the Prime Minister for the trust and confidence he has placed in me to do this job, as I would like to thank his predecessors as prime minister, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull, for the opportunities they have given me to serve. “The prime minister and I have worked closely and very effectively together for many years. We worked together directly on three Budgets and three half-yearly Budget updates.” He would not be drawn on his future plans. “Over the next six months, I will be 100 per cent focused on the job at hand,” Senator Cormann said. “Before handing the baton, there is another six months or so of hard work to be done in this job, to help manage a responsible transition out of the coronavirus-induced crisis and to help finalise and set in train our five-year-plan to maximise the strength of our economy and jobs recovery. We will also need to make the necessary decisions to re-embark on the important journey of Budget repair. I will turn my mind to what is next for me and my family at an appropriate time.” Senator Cormann’s retirement from politics could pave the way for WA Federal Liberal MP Ben Morton to enter Federal Cabinet. Mr Morton, a close ally of Mr Morrison, is currently in the Junior Ministry — an Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt is tipped to replace Senator Cormann as the nation’s finance minister. Mr Morrison yesterday paid tribute to the WA senator. “Mathias Cormann has been a mainstay of the Government since we were first elected in. 2013. As Australia’s longest-serving finance minister, Mathias was central to the Government returning the Budget to balance that has now enabled us to respond to the current economic challenges with great confidence. “As the leader of the Government in the Senate, Mathias has been responsible for getting critical legislation across the line that has guaranteed essential services, kept Australians safe and cut taxes for hardworking Australians as well as small and medium-sized business.” Mr Morrison said Senator Cormann had often championed issues affecting WA. “As senator for Western Australia, he has built a substantial legacy, constantly championing the State’s future. It was my great pleasure to work with Mathias to deliver on GST reform that finally gave WA a fair deal. Many promised it, but together we delivered it,” he said. “I have enjoyed a strong working relationship and friendship with Mathias since we both entered Parliament back in 2007. This has always enabled us to work through any issues or challenges we have faced during our many years working together. “The timing of Mathias’ departure means there is still much more work to do before he leaves the Parliament at the end of the year. “This enables us to deal with the immediate issues of the economic crisis, while enabling a smooth transition to a new finance minister to work with the treasurer in the lead-up to next year’s budget.” The Mathias Cormann story reads like a Hollywood movie. The son of working-class parents Herbert and Hildergard Cormann, the Belgian-born Mathias came to Perth in 1994 for a holiday, and returned in 1996 to make Australia his home. Fluent in German, French and Dutch, Senator Cormann had only learnt to speak English three years earlier. His first job was working as a gardener at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, before volunteering his services for former WA senator Chris Ellison, who gave him a job two weeks later. Nine years later, the now 49-year-old became a WA senator, filling the vacancy caused by the retirement of Ian Campbell. In 2013, when Tony Abbott swept to power, Senator Cormann became the nation’s finance minister, later becoming the Leader of the Government in 2017, as well as being a key member of the Expenditure Review Committee of Cabinet and the National Security Committee of Cabinet for seven years. He also chairs the National Security Investment Committee. Mr Ellison said yesterday Senator Cormann would leave behind “a significant legacy as Australia’s longest-serving finance minister”. “Mathias has successfully contributed to the management of Australia’s finances under the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison Governments, as well representing Australia well on the international stage.”